Unraveling the Viking Ivory Trade: Ancient Walrus DNA Reveals Surprising Secrets

A groundbreaking study has traced the Viking Age walrus ivory trade routes using ancient DNA, shedding light on Norse interactions with Indigenous Arctic peoples centuries before Columbus.

Key Findings:

1. Walrus ivory traded by Greenland Norse originated from remote High Arctic hunting grounds.
2. Norse Vikings and Arctic Indigenous peoples met and traded in the North Water Polynya.
3. Genetic “fingerprinting” revealed specific Arctic hunting grounds as sources of traded ivory.
4. Experimental voyages confirmed Norse seafaring capabilities.

Expert Insights:

“The Norse expansion into the North Atlantic was driven by the demand for elite products like walrus ivory.” – Peter Jordan, Professor of Archaeology, Lund University

“The genetic profiles of walrus artifacts matched specific Arctic hunting grounds.” – Morten Tange Olsen, Associate Professor, Globe Institute

Implications:

1. Evidence of early encounters between European Norse and North American Indigenous peoples.
2. Confirmation of the North Water Polynya as a significant cultural meeting point.
3. Insights into contrasting Norse and Indigenous Arctic lifestyles.

Reference:

Study published in Science Advances (2024)

Share Your Thoughts:

How do these findings reshape our understanding of Viking trade routes and cultural interactions?